Fear Is Love

Chapter 3

kateandharvey

"Well," He struggled to tell her how he felt without blowing it. "I..." He took a deep breath, and looked her straight in the eyes. "I certainly wasn't going to tell you what I did."

She nodded, "I kind of gathered that." She paused, "Listen, Niles. I'm really sorry about the way I acted that night. I was immature and selfish, and... I'm sorry." She smirked sadly.

He told her seriously, "You have nothing to apologize for. I was being a bloody idiot. I should've never played with your emotions."

She shrugged, "Well, you could make up for it one way..." Feeling as if they needed to be pulled from this dangerous territory, she told him, "You could show me your tattoo."

He laughed deeply. "Yes, I suppose I could, couldn't I?"

She nodded, "You could."

"But I won't." He told her.

"Then you have to answer the question." She told him.

He shook his head, "I think you need some rest, Miss Babcock." He stood up, patted her leg, and leaned over to kiss her on the forehead.

"Sleep tight. I'll be in the kitchen.." He smiled softly, and left the room.

CC knew he'd avoided her question, but drifted off to sleep anyway.

That night, as Niles prepared for bed, he removed his shirt and looked at himself in the mirror. It was such a stupid decision. He decided. A tattoo.

Shaking his head, he continued to admire the artwork on the top of the left side of his chest. The "2XC" printed on his chest in the black ink lined in blue stared at him. Daring him to show it to her. Would she know what it meant? Would she be shocked? Would she like it? Hate it? The thoughts ran through his head like crazy. After quickly checking on CC, Niles went to bed.

"No!" Niles woke up to CC's screaming. "No!" He heard again. "Niles!" She screamed, and he jumped out of bed and ran towards her room, completely forgetting his shirt.

He ran into her room, and tried to talk her out of it. "CC... CC! It's just a dream, wake up. CC!" He yelled, with no help at all.

He reached for her and gently shook her awake. "CC." He called her name, and she opened her eyes.

"Niles?" She asked sleepily.

He sat next to her on her bed. "Yes. I'm right here. It's alright, you had another bad dream.

She nodded, "Thank you." She said, looking up at him.

He smiled, "You're welcome."

She smiled back, and then her eyes noticed the letters on his bare chest. Silently, her hand reached out and touched them.

Niles held his breath, cursing himself for forgetting his shirt.

"Two, X, C." She whispered, tracing the out line of the ink. "What does it stand for?" She asked him.

He finally exhaled. She didn't know. "My mother. Catherine Cassandra."

She looked up at him a little confused. "I thought your mother's name was Marie?"

"Well... " He stumbled, "Did I say my mother? I meant my grandmother."

"Your grandmother's name is Marie also. Niles... what aren't you telling me about?" She asked him suspiciously.

Niles sighed. He knew that this was the moment. "CC..." He took her hand in his.

She shook her head, tears starting to form. "Don't say it unless you mean it, Niles."

He grabbed her hand with both of his, and leaned toward her. "But I do, CC. And I should've told you that night in the kitchen. But when I started to... I just... I got scared."

"Scared?" She asked, "Scared of what?"

"That you wouldn't return my feelings." He revealed, looking down into his lap.

"Oh Niles..."

"CC, now is the right time. I'm sure of it. So, CC Babcock," He took a deep breath as CC smiled at him. "I lo-"

Ring! Ring! Ring!

He sighed, and rested his forehead against hers. "It may be Mrs. or Mr. Sheffield. I'm sorry." He told her, and she smiled, understanding, even if she was a little disappointed.

"Sheffield-Really?" Niles' formal answer quickly changed to a surprised 'really?' "Yes...Yes...uh-hu...That's wonderful! No, Babcock and me haven't killed each other yet. No... No... Really? Wonderful, that's great! I'm glad. Alright then, goodbye."

Niles hung up the phone and turned to CC. "That was Miss Margaret." At CC's confused look, "The Big One. She said Fran had the twins, and their names are Jonah and Eve, and that they should be back within a week! Isn't that wonderful?"

CC smiled, and nodded.

Niles' smile dropped off of his face. "What's wrong?"